Zoning lines OK'd for new Legacy Elementary

Published: Tuesday, February 12, 2013 at 8:14 p.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, February 13, 2013 at 8:28 a.m.

A new attendance boundary for Legacy Elementary School was officially adopted Tuesday night by the Marion County School Board.

Legacy Elementary, the county's newest school, is projected to open in August with 573 students and will help relieve overcrowding at three schools in Silver Springs Shores and Belleview.

The Legacy attendance area was carved primarily out of zones once assigned to Greenway and Belleview-Santos elementary schools. In all, about 670 students will be affected in 2013-14.

The board also decided to allow incoming fifth-graders, or this year's fourth-graders, to finish their last year at their original school. That applies only if the parents provide transportation.

There was no one present to speak about the new boundaries. In December, the district held a public meeting about the proposed attendance changes. About 50 parents showed up to learn more, most asking questions about Legacy's curriculum.

The Legacy attendance area is defined generally as south of Maricamp Road, east of Southeast 41st Street and west of Bahia Road. The southern boundary runs less than a mile north of, and parallel to, the Belleview Bypass.

With the new boundaries, three area schools - Greenway, Belleview-Santos and Maplewood elementary schools - will get relief from overcrowding in 2013-14.

Greenway is currently the county's largest elementary school, with more than 900 students. Under its new attendance zone, Greenway is expected to shrink to about 700 students in August or by 70 below its brick-and-mortar capacity.

Belleview-Santos, which currently has about 750 students, will shrink to about 520, roughly 180 below capacity.

Maplewood, which currently has about 820 students, will decline to about 700, just under capacity. Most, if not all, of those Maplewood students will be shifted to Greenway, not Legacy.

Legacy, located north of the intersection of Juniper and Chestnut roads, is being built west of Baseline Road. The cost of the school is about $20 million, which includes land, construction and furnishings. The project was funded via the now-expired half-cent sales tax.

Contact Joe Callahan at 867-4113 or joe.callahan@starbanner.com. Follow him on Twitter at JoeOcalaNews.

<p>A new attendance boundary for Legacy Elementary School was officially adopted Tuesday night by the Marion County School Board.</p><p>Legacy Elementary, the county's newest school, is projected to open in August with 573 students and will help relieve overcrowding at three schools in Silver Springs Shores and Belleview.</p><p>The Legacy attendance area was carved primarily out of zones once assigned to Greenway and Belleview-Santos elementary schools. In all, about 670 students will be affected in 2013-14.</p><p>The board also decided to allow incoming fifth-graders, or this year's fourth-graders, to finish their last year at their original school. That applies only if the parents provide transportation.</p><p>There was no one present to speak about the new boundaries. In December, the district held a public meeting about the proposed attendance changes. About 50 parents showed up to learn more, most asking questions about Legacy's curriculum.</p><p>The Legacy attendance area is defined generally as south of Maricamp Road, east of Southeast 41st Street and west of Bahia Road. The southern boundary runs less than a mile north of, and parallel to, the Belleview Bypass.</p><p>With the new boundaries, three area schools - Greenway, Belleview-Santos and Maplewood elementary schools - will get relief from overcrowding in 2013-14.</p><p>Greenway is currently the county's largest elementary school, with more than 900 students. Under its new attendance zone, Greenway is expected to shrink to about 700 students in August or by 70 below its brick-and-mortar capacity.</p><p>Belleview-Santos, which currently has about 750 students, will shrink to about 520, roughly 180 below capacity.</p><p>Maplewood, which currently has about 820 students, will decline to about 700, just under capacity. Most, if not all, of those Maplewood students will be shifted to Greenway, not Legacy.</p><p>Legacy, located north of the intersection of Juniper and Chestnut roads, is being built west of Baseline Road. The cost of the school is about $20 million, which includes land, construction and furnishings. The project was funded via the now-expired half-cent sales tax.</p><p><i>Contact Joe Callahan at 867-4113 or joe.callahan@starbanner.com. Follow him on Twitter at JoeOcalaNews.</i></p>